Center vent double flow coil tower



ZRMLEM July L i941. L.. T. MART CENTER VENT DOUBLE FLOW COIL TOWER FiledJuly 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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f W M n w N l Y Fuly l, R41.. L. T. MART l CENTER VENT DOUBLE FLOW COILTOWER Filed J111y`22, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 QM mwmvwNM.

INVENTOR. `Qa/7 TMa' T RNEYg ,I Html'. will" www [Ilfwlllml uy E, L L, TMART. l ZWEK@ CENTER VENT DOUBLE FLOW COIL TOWER Filed July 22, 1940 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT OR.

Patented July 1, 1941 2.247,514 CENTER VENT DOUBLE FLCVV COIL TOWER LeonT. Mart, Mission Township, Johnson County,

` Kans.,

assignor to The Marley Company,

Kansas City, Kans., a corporation ot Missouri Application July 22, 1940,Serial No. 346,765

(Cl. E61-11) Claims.

This invention relates to cooling towers and has for a primary objectthe provision of a tower wherein not only is the temperature of waterlowered, but a plurality of coils are cooled by the action of such waterafter it has been initially acted upon lby currents of air having pathsof travel greater than the length of the path of travel through whichthe water has fallen prior to its introduction to said coils.

One of the important aims of the instant invention is the provision of acooling tower preferably of the induced draft type, wherein the body isrelatively long, wide and. low to effect economicl water distribution,`simplicity of operation, high eiliciency, and relatively lowmaintenance and operation cost.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a coolingtower of the induced draft type that has set oi in the casing thereof,two distinct compartments arranged one above the other, the uppercompartment being bottomed by a water collecting tray beneath which andin the lower compartment, is disposed a plurality of coils arranged inbanks to be wetted by water escaping through spray he'ads in the bottomof the tray.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a coolingtower of the aforementioned character wherein is provided means forcontrolling the amount of Water passing from the tray to any one of thebanks of coils in the lowermost chamber thereof.

This invention has for a yet further aim the provision of a coolingtower having two distinct horizontal compartments, both of whichcommunicate with an air discharge chamber, the air from one of saidcompartments being controlled by a valved port.

Heretofore, cdoling towers have assumed proportions and been constructedso that the travel of a large amount of' air through short pathsintersecting long paths of travel of Water, have necessitated heavyequipment, such as motors and pumps to lift the water to high points ofdistribution from whence it gravitatedthrough the short horizontal aircurrents. It has been found by actual experience and commercial teststhat less air per givenvolume of water is needed tageous results thatare obtained from cooling towers having proportions similar to thoseshow n in the accompanying drawings, further advantages arise from suchcooling tower because the same permits more compact arrangement of component parts, simplified framing and bracing to meet design stresses,better proportioning for good appearance, and greater ease and safety inmaintenance work.

More specific objects of the invention will ap.

pear during `the course of the Yfollowing specification, referring tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a coolingtower made to embody the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an irregular horizontal sectional view I illustrating a meansfor controlling the entrance of water into one of the ncovers above atube bank.

The casing for this center vent double flow coil toweris of conventionalnature and has heretofore been employed in a manner illustrated in myUnited States Letters Patent No.v 2,191,938, issued February 2'?, 1940.

A water distribution basin 6 at the top of the tower cooperates withside walls B ateach of two opposite sides thereof, and a collectingchamber I0 at the bottom to produce ahorizontal air guiding conduit. f

Vertically spaced decks I2 below basin 6 extend from louvres I4 at oneend of the air guiding conduit to a zone of connection between a Idischarge chamber I6 and the aforesaid horlzontal conduit. Thishorizontal conduit I8 is relatively long with respect to the distancebetween collecting tray 20 and basin 6.

Basin 6 has openings formedthrough the bot tom thereof into which are.fitted spray heads 22 of conventional type, whereby water is allowed toflow from lbasin 6 downwardly through horizontal conduit I8, over decksI2 and into collecting tray 20. Air discharge chamber I6 has an upwardlydirected mouth 24 wherein is dis posed fan 26 driven by motor 2B.

The double dow type of tower. illustrated in the accompanying drawings,is desirable so far as fan 26 is concerned because said fan serves toforce air through a plurality of horizontal conduits I8.

Partition 29 extends from immediately below fan 2B downwardly tocollecting basin It to insure that any atmospheric air currents, due towind conditions, will not pass horizontally through one air guidingconduit i8 into the other. Partition 29 will divert upwardly any airentering discharge chamber it.

Baiiie elements 30 are positionedwithin discharge chamber I6 to dividethe latter into two portions, one of which overlies a part of collectingtray 20, while the other part is beneath fan 25. Elements 30 serve toeliminate water from the air passing therethrough toward fan 26 and alsooperate to produce a uniform ilow of air horizontally through conduit i8between decks l2. Any water removed from the air currents by bailleelements 30 will gravitate into tray 20. Tray sets oli a lowercompartment dll and extends to a point spaced from partition 29.

A vertical wall projecting upwardly from the inner end of tray 20assists in creating port 36 through which air passes from lowercompartment 40 to discharge chamber I6. Damper 38 is mounted in port 36so that the operator may f time.

Tray 2Q is provided with a number of openings therethrough into whichare fitted spray heads or the like 32, through which passes the waterafter it has been collected ln tray 20 and after it has been permittedto iiow into vone of the covers, hereinafter more fully described.

Water from collecting tray 20 drops by gravity onto decks d2 where it isbroken up into finely divided form for better heat transfer and'tothoroughly cover condenser tubes llt disposed in lower compartment Ml.The falling water enters basin l@ and iiows into sump d6 from where itmay be pumped directly to a point of re-use or back to waterdistribution basin B at the top of the tower.

The spray heads and openings into which the same are fitted, are dividedinto groups, as shown in Fig. 2. Each group of spray heads 32 is connedwithin a cover 60 that cooperates with the bottom of tray 20 in formingbox-like receivers for water that is intended to fiow downwardly throughspray heads 32 and onto condenser tubes M. 'Iubes M are arranged inbanks, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and each bank of tubes is wetted bywater falling through spray heads 32 beneath a cover 60.

Water is allowed to enter the covers Sill only through an inlet opening62, the size of which is controlled by a valve head 54 mounted upon rodS6. This rod 66 is screw-threadedas at 6B and has a handle 10, one endthereof which projects outwardly from one end of the cooling tower. Theinner end of rod 66 is slidably mounted in a bearing 'l2 so that uponrotation of rod 66, valve head 64 will move toward and from a positionclosing opening 62. Thus, as shown in Fig. 4, one cover 60 may be closedentirely to preclude the flow of water downwardly onto a bank ofcondenser tubes while the other covers may have :mantray a desiredamount of water passing therethrough to wet the underlyingcondensertubes to the required degree.

The amount of air pulled through lower compartment t0 by fan 26 may beincreasedwhen all of the banks of condenser tubes M are being cooled.Fan 2S is common to both upper and lower compartments in the coolingtower and the degree at whichthe water in lower compartment t@ iscooled, is due to the volume 'of air drawn therethrough by fan 26. After.the water has been initially cooled by passing downwardly through decksl2, it may remain at a temperature desirable for commercial use inengines, for example, even after it has functioned to cool condensertubes lli. The amount of air therefore, which is allowed to pass throughport 36, will have to be varied in accordance with the work required ofthe water as it passes over the several banks of condenser tubes 4t.

If all of covers 60 are closed, overflow pipes sump la to waterdistribution basin B may be through a pump 52 of known type. Obviously,this water from sump 46 may be passed through commercial equipment priorto its return to basin Having thus described the invention, what is!claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: Y

1. In a cooling tower of the character described, a casing formed with adischarge chamber and having the top, bottom and sides thereof closed toform a horizontal air guiding conduit in communication with thedischargeV chamber; water distributing means for discharging Water atthe top of the conduit for gravitating downwardly therethrough; a fan inthe discharge chamber for forcibly propelling air through the conduit; awater collecting tray vertically spaced above the bottom of the conduit,provided with downwardly directed openings and setting off an upper andlower compartment in the conduit; a

water collecting basin at the bottom of said con-r .spaced above thewater in said collecting basin and below said tray to be wetted by thewater falling from the tray to the basin; and a pump for returning waterfrom the basin to the said water distributing means at the. top of theconduit said openings in the tray being arranged in groups above eachbank of condenser tubes respectively, each of said groups of openingshaving means for controlling the ow of water through all the openingsthereof.

2. In a cooling tower of the character described, a casing formed with adischarge chamber and having the top, bottom and sides thereof closed toform a horizontal air guiding conduit in communication with thedischarge chamber; water distributing means for discharging water at thetop of the conduit for gravitating downwardly therethrough; a fan in thedischarge chamber for forcibly propelling air through the conduit; awater collecting tray vertically spaced above the bottom of the.conduit, provided with downwardly directed openings and setting ofi anupper and lower compartment in the conduit; a water collecting basin atthe bottom f said conduit; condenser tubes in the lower compartmentspaced above the water in said collecting basin and below said tray tobe wetted by the water falling from the tray'to the basin; means forcontrolling the flow of water downwardly through the said tray; and apump for returning water from the basin to the said water distributingmeans at the top of the conduit said means for controlling the ow ofwater downwardly through said tray comprising a number of covers eachabove a group of openings respectively and each having a valved inletopening at one side thereof to allow water to ilow into the cover andseek its level when the valve is open.

3. In a cooling tower of the character described, a casing formed with adischarge chamber and having the top, bottom and sides thereof closed toform a horizontal air guiding conduit in communication with thedischarge chamber; water distributing means for discharging water at thetop of the conduit for gravitating downwardly therethrough; a fan in thedischarge chamber for forcibly propelling air through the conduit; awater collecting tray vertically spaced above the bottom of the conduit,provided with downwardly directed openings and setting off an upper andlower compartment in the conduit;

' a water collecting basin at the bottom of said conduit; condensertubes in the lower compartment spaced above the water in said collectingbasin and below said tray to be wetted by the water falling from thetray to the basin; and a pump for returning water from the basin to thesaid water distributing means at the top of the conduit, said watercollecting tray having a plurality of covers overlying certain groupsrespectively of the openings therein, said covers being provided withmeans for allowing a predetermined amount of water to pass through therespective underlying openings.

4. In a cooling tower of the character described, a casing formed with adischarge chambei' having the top, bottom and sides thereof closed toform a horizontal air guiding conduit in communication with thedischarge chamber; water distributing means for discharging water at thetop of the conduit for gravitating downwardly therethrough; a fan in thedischarge chamber for forcibly propelling air through the conduit; awater collecting tray vertically spaced above the bottom of the conduit,provided with downwardly directed openings and setting oi an upper and alower compartment in the conduit;

a water collecting basin at the bottom of said conduit; condenser tubesarranged in segregated banks in the lower compartment spaced above thewatr in said collecting basin and below ber and having the top, bottomand sides there- `oi? closed to form a horizontal air guiding conduit incommunication with the discharge chamber; water distributing means fordischarging water at the top of the conduit for gravitating downwardlytherethrough; a fan in the discharge chamber for forcibly propelling airthrough the conduit; a water collecting tray vertically spaced above thebottom of the conduit, provided with downwardly directed openings andsetting oil? an upper and a lower compartment in the conduit; a watercollecting basin at the bottom of said conduit; condenser tubes in thelower compartment spaced above the water in said collecting basin andbelow said tray to be wetted by the water falling from the tray to thebasin; a plurality of vertically spaced splash decks in the air guidingconduit above the collecting tray; a pump for returning waterfrom thebasin to the said water distributing means at the top oi the` conduit;and a valved port establishing' the only means of' communication betweenthe lower compartment and the discharge chamber.

6. In a; cooling tower of the character described a casing formed with adischarge chamber and having the top, bottom and sides thereof closed toform a horizontal air guiding conduit in communication with thedischarge chamber; water distributing means for discharging water at thetop .of the conduit for gravitating downwardly therethrough; a fan inthe discharge chamber for forcibly propelling air through the conduit; awater collecting tray vertically spacedabove the bottom of the conduit,provided with downwardly directed .openings and setting olT an upper anda lower compartment yin the conduit; a water collecting basin at thebottom of said conduit; condenser tubes in the lower compartment spacedabove the water in said collecting basin and below said tray to bewetted by the water falling from the tray to the basin; a plurality ofvertically spaced splash decks in the air guiding conduit above thecollecting tray; a pump for returning water from the basin to the saidwater distributing means at the top of the conduit; a port establishingthe only means of communication between the lower compartment and thedischarge chamber; a valve in said port; and means for setting the valveto cause a predetermined amount; of air to pass to the discharge chamberfrom Vthe lower compartment.

'7. In a cooling tower of the character described a casing formed with adischarge chamber and having the top, bottom and sides thereof closed toform a horizontal air guiding conduit in communication with thedischarge chamber; water distributing means for discharging water at thetop of the conduit for gravitating downwardly therethrough; a fan in thedischarge chamber for forcibly propelling air through the conduit; awater collecting tray vertically spaced above the bottom of the conduit,provided with downwardly directed openings and setting oi an upper and alower compartment'in the conduit; a water collecting basin at the bottomof said conduit; condenser tubes in the lower compartment spaced abovethe water in said'collecting basin and below said tray to be wetted bythe water falling from the tray to the basin; a plurality of verticallyspaced splash decks in the air guidingconduit above the collecting tray;a pump for returning water from the basin to the said water distributingmeans at the top of the conduit; and a valved port establishing the onlymeans of communication between the lower compartment and the dischargechamber, said discharge chamber having baille means therein beow of airhorizontally and in substantially uniform volume in parallel streamsacross the entire deck areas. y

8. In a cooling tower of -the character described, a casing formed witha discharge chamber and having the top, bottom and sides thereof closedto form a horizontal air guiding conduit in communication with thedischarge chamber; water distributing means for discharging water at thetop of the conduit for gravitating downwardly therethrough; a watercollecting tray vertically spaced above the bottom ci the conduit,provided with downwardly directed openings and setting off an upper. andlower compartment in the conduit; a waterv collecting basin at thebottom of said conduit; condenser tubes arranged in horizontally spaced-apart banks in the lower compartment spaced above the water in saidcollecting basin and below said tray to be wetted by the water falling'from the in communication with the Adischarge chamber; waterdistributing means for discharging water at the tcp of the conduit forgravitating downwardly therethrough; a fan in the discharge chamber forlforcibly propelling air through the tween the said decks andv said fanto equalize the conduit; a water collecting tray verticauy'spaced abovethe bottom of the conduit; provided with downwardly directed openingsandsetting. off an upper and lower compartmentin the conduit; a watercollecting basin at the bottom of said conduit; and condenser tubesarranged in horizontally spaced apart banks in the lower compartmentspaced above the water in said collecting basin and below said-tray tobe wetted by the water falling from the tray to the basin,I

said openings in the tray being arranged in groups above each bank ofcondenser tubes respectively, each of said groups of openings havingmeans for controlling the iiow of water through all the openingsthereof.

10. In a cooling tower of the character described, a casing formed witha discharge chamber and having the top, bottom and sides thereof closedto form a horizontal air guiding conduit in communication with thedischarge chamber; water distributing means for discharging water at thetop of the conduit for gravitating downwardly therethrough; a watercollecting tray vertically spaced above the bottom of the conduit,provided with downwardly directed openings and setting .off an upper andlower compartment in the conduit; a water collecting basin at the bottomof said conduit; and condenser tubes arranged in horizontally spacedapart banks in the lower compartment spaced above the water in saidcollecting basin and below said tray to be wetted by the water fallingfrom the tray to the basin, said openings in the tray being arranged ingroups above each bank of condenser tubes respectively, each of saidgroups of openings having means for controlling the iiow of waterthrough all the openings thereof,

LEON T. MART.

